Archive for the 'Anthony Ortega' Tag Under 'Angels' Category

The Angels are turning to young prospect Tyler Chatwood to make his major-league debut tonight (against the hottest team in baseball -- the Cleveland Indians?).

At an age of 21 years, 116 days, Chatwood could become one of the youngest American League pitchers to win his major-league debut this century. According to Stats LLC, here are the youngest AL pitchers to win their MLB debuts since 2000 -- two of them are currently Angels though they weren't at the time and one of them did it as an Angel but is no longer with the team:

LHP Scott Kazmir, age 20 years, 212 days (for Tampa Bay at Seattle, August 23, 2004)

A couple years ago,Venezuelan right-hander Anthony Ortega was a rising prospect in the organization as a starter. He was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2008 after going a combined 14-7 in Double-A and Triple-A (including 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA in six Triple-A starts). The following spring, he and Nick Adenhart competed for a spot in a thin Angels' starting rotation.

In April 2009, that rotation was hit hard by injuries and Adenhart's tragic death. The Angels reached out to Triple-A for a couple starters including Ortega who made his major-league debut at age 23. It didn't go very well -- he was 0-2 with a 9.24 ERA in three big-league starts.

Ortega's problems were only beginning, however. He made just one start in Triple-A after being sent back to the minors in 2009 and was shut down with elbow problems for the rest of the season. More arm problems followed in 2010 and Ortega threw just 24 2/3 innings (nine on a rehab assignment in rookie league).

Ortega is in camp with the Angels again this spring and pitching well. He has allowed just one hit to the 10 batters he has faced. But he's a reliever now, not a starter.

"I think they (the Angels' medical staff) feel that, with some of the issues he's had on the medical side, it's better for him to be throwing in shorter spurts and maybe not have to go out there and throw the 100 pitches and try to recover," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Right-hander Joel Pineiro is scheduled to start for the Angels when they open the Cactus League schedule against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Brian Stokes, Anthony Ortega, Rich Thompson and Fernando Rodriguez are also expected to pitch.

During the Winter Meetings, the beat writers meet with the GM each afternoon in his suite.

There is usually a big, dry-erase board in the conference area that teams use during their internal discussions. Sometimes you'll see the 40-man roster written there, maybe a positional depth chart -- or a lineup (which Angels communications pooh-bah Tim Mead quickly erased as we entered the suite one day last year).

This year, there was a positional depth chart on the board when we met with GM Tony Reagins each of the past two days. Nothing really surprising on there but this might be worth noting.

The starting pitchers were listed with Matt Palmer as the fifth after a space Anthony Ortega and Trevor Reckling were listed (in that order). Sean O'Sullivan, Trevor Bell and Dustin Moseley were included with the list of bullpen candidates.

Bobby Wilson has been recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to fill the spot vacated when right-hander Anthony Ortega was demoted Sunday. Wilson batted .284 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 20 games for Salt Lake (where he was playing catcher, not shortstop -- I checked).

Wilson gives the Angels the flexibility to continue playing Mike Napoli at DH (where he is 10 for 17 in five starts) without having to worry about losing Jeff Mathis to injury.

The man most thrilled to see Wilson in town? Robb Quinlan. He's the Angels' emergency catcher --- "he just doesn't know it yet," Scioscia always jokes.

Ervin Santana will be the most important pitcher throwing in the Angels' minor-league system tonight when he takes the mound for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

But here are a few other things worth noting about some Angels minor-leaguers:

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** Hard-throwing right-hander Jordan Walden has not pitched since throwing seven shutout innings for Double-A Arkansas on April 21. He was shut down with inflammation in his pitching elbow and placed on the DL. The issue is not considered to be a long-term problem.

** When the Angels promoted Matt Palmer and Anthony Ortega from the starting rotation in Triple-A, the trickle-down effect meant a promotion to Triple-A for Sean O'Sullivan and to Double-A for 19-year-old left-hander Trevor Reckling.